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jazzyjbox's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An interesting magical story about a coven trying to protect their school from a Witch hunter.
Rose transfers to Livingston boarding school after her affair with a teacher became public. But Rose's beautiful new roommate Charlie seems like a mean girl until Charlie invites Rose to join a coven and learn magic. When a threat comes from the nearby boys school, Rose and the other girls have to find a way to defeat the witch hunter before another person dies.
This is one of the few instances where I enjoyed the first half of a book more than the second half. The first part felt emotional and real with Rose's loneliness and desperation to fit in. But the second half felt rushed with trying to tie up all the pieces of the plot and the emotional story. There were parts that didn't make sense either - like why Charlie's sister had committed suicide. I do enjoy a Sapphic magical mystery, and this isn't a bad one by any means. I just wish the last third would have been a little more developed.
Rose transfers to Livingston boarding school after her affair with a teacher became public. But Rose's beautiful new roommate Charlie seems like a mean girl until Charlie invites Rose to join a coven and learn magic. When a threat comes from the nearby boys school, Rose and the other girls have to find a way to defeat the witch hunter before another person dies.
This is one of the few instances where I enjoyed the first half of a book more than the second half. The first part felt emotional and real with Rose's loneliness and desperation to fit in. But the second half felt rushed with trying to tie up all the pieces of the plot and the emotional story. There were parts that didn't make sense either - like why Charlie's sister had committed suicide. I do enjoy a Sapphic magical mystery, and this isn't a bad one by any means. I just wish the last third would have been a little more developed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Suicide
itsapaxycab's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was really excited about this book, from its concept and the summary I was interested, but everything fell flat. The characters didn't feel shaped well, the story was all over the place, and I really struggled with the dialogue, which made the whole book feel choppy. There's probably an audience out there for this but it did nothing for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
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